Pharmacy economic repercussions and other expenses in changing vascular equipment with no change in the rate of infection.
OBJECTIVE
Comparison of infections when modifying the protocol of change of vascular equipment, from 48 to 72 hours, and its repercussion on pharmacy expenses and fungibles.


METHODS
Prospective study of operation.


BACKGROUND
Medical and surgical ICU of a University Hospital.


METHODS
Bacteriological data of the catheters and hemocultures of two groups of patients are studied. The Control Group is formed by 105 patients admitted for three months, and the Study Group are 106 patients admitted in the other months of the following year, after the change in the protocol of vascular catheters.


METHODS
In the first group of patients, the vascular equipment (Monitoring kit of pressure, drop equipment, stopcock valves, accuracy valves and medication) were changed according to the established protocol, every 48 hours. In the second group of patients, the same changes were done every 72 hours.


RESULTS
The diagnosis, age, average stay and survival were recorded in both groups. The infection rate by catheters and bacteremias did not show significant differences between both groups. However, the load of nursing work was reduced when changing the equipment every 72 hours and, in the same way, there was a noticeable saving in the pharmacy and fungible material consumption.


CONCLUSIONS
The changes of equipment of vascular catheters may be done every 72 hours without having a higher rate of infections and with an optimum use of resources.
García Lavandera
M V
MV
Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias.
Suárez Pérez
S
S
Coalla González
C
C
Bernardo Rodŕiguez
Y
Y
D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000451:nursing; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology*; D016527:Drug Costs; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
Repercusiones económicas, gasto farmacéutico y fungibles, del cambio de equipos vasculares sin incidencia en la tasa de infecciones.